Author Archives: Martin

Too late for any residents this year, but I’ve amused myself by making a sparrow bird terrace out of some left-over decking.

A daily challenge is to find slightly different variations on our standard walks from home. We are very lucky in that we are close to the coast, three nature reserves, woodlands and a popular lake as well as the, mostly closed, … Continue reading →

The greenhouse is fantastic in many ways, but occasionally you wonder if its worth it. This beautiful little goldfinch flew in and, presumably, knocked himself out trying to find the way out.  

The Panama-registered vessel, Positive Leader, carrying more cars for the UK market (good luck with that!) arrives in Portbury Dock to add to the thousands already there.

Prior’s Wood, between Portbury and Wraxall, is normally thick with bluebell tourists at this time of year. This is no normal year, though. We passed no-one going through the wood so social distancing was not required.  

I make the vegetable planter (that’s the easy bit), Sally sows the courgette seeds in the greenhouse, nurses them along, pots them up, fills the planter with last-year’s compost, plants the seedlings, waters them in, and then, blow me down, … Continue reading →

Another fabulous day in lockdown! The weather continues to taunt us. The campervan waits, eagerly, for its chance to whisk us off to distant holiday destinations.

The dexter cattle, the luckiest, happiest cattle on earth, who put in stirling work controlling the grass on Walton Common, have been escaping. They have been losing their electronic collars, which administer a mild electric “reminder” when they stray over … Continue reading →

People in apartments near us have a trainer who stands on a pontoon on the marina and, with the aid of a microphone, brings everyone onto their balconies at 11:00am for a workout. Some, those with no shame, are still … Continue reading →

Overnight winds and high tide left a bit of a mess, mostly seaweed and washed-up tree branches, along Portishead beach, aka Woodhill Bay.